Leventhorpe pool and gym closes after last-minute funding bid by Hertfordshire County Council fails to deliver lifeline
It was the Christmas no one in Sawbridgeworth wanted as residents took a last dip in the town’s swimming pool on Sunday (Dec 22) before it closed its doors.
The much-loved pool and gym at Leventhorpe School in Cambridge Road was earmarked for closure after central Government funding was withdrawn, meaning the school, which owns it, could no longer afford to keep it open.
A campaign was launched to try to save it, with two petitions garnering more than 6,000 names and Hertford and Stortford MP Josh Dean identifying a funding lifeline from his Labour Government.
Hertfordshire County Council confirmed an application for “exceptional circumstances” funding had been lodged with the Department for Education (DfE) and last Tuesday (Dec 17) the Indie learned the request was “under assessment” and a decision would be taken “imminently”.
With such a tight timescale – which Sawbridgeworth’s Herts County Council member Eric Buckmaster stressed had been because they were awaiting funding details from the new Government – there was an inevitability about the pool’s closure.
Leventhorpe headteacher Malcom White sent a message to parents on the last day of term on Friday (Dec 20).
He said: “The last time I wrote to update you on the pool (December 3), I stated that Hertfordshire County Council had submitted a bid for exceptional funding to the Department for Education to see if they would agree to continue to fund the pool.
“As I write to you we have not heard the outcome of that application. We have asked for information as to when we will know if the bid is successful or not, but we haven’t been given any firm timescales.
“We are therefore continuing with the plan to close the pool and gym from December 23. Everyone Active are contacting their clients to inform them of this.”
Mr White added: “The pool will only reopen if East Herts Council and the school can find a financially viable solution with a third party company taking control of day-to-day operations at the site.”
Cllr Buckmaster said: “Along with other Sawbridgeworth residents, I am very sad at the closing of the pool. It was a big part of my family life as my children were growing up.”
He said the funding application was still being considered by the Government, and he and fellow East Herts district councillor for Sawbridgeworth Angus Parsad-Wyatt had continued discussions with East Herts Council and the school about “potential future options”.
Cllr Buckmaster added: “If the funding application is eventually approved by Government to allow us some more time, then we really need East Herts and Everyone Active to step up and contribute to allow the pool to reopen. While there is some hope, we need to keep trying. Residents will want to return to a facility that is local.”
Davy Mascall, a resident who regularly used the pool and credited it with him losing 8st in weight and who launched one of the petitions, joined others on Sunday for a last swim.
“I'm really upset it has closed as [I have] so many memories from childhood to adulthood,“ said Davy, who thanked people for all the support.
Sarah Wright posted thanks to Mr Mascall for fighting for the pool, adding she was hoping for a “late Christmas miracle”.